Parallel-ruler



(No Model.)

J. C. MILLER.

PARALLEL RULER. No. 296,598. Patented Apr. 8, l884.

NVENTOR.

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M "RNEYSx WITNBSSES:

UNrTED STA-'res FFlCE JOHN CALVIN MILLER, OF ICKESBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PARALLEL-RULER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,598, dated April 8, 1884.

Application led February'lv, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Beit known that I, J. C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lckesburg, in the county of Perry and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andV useful Improvements in Parallel-Rulers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which-e Figure 1 is a perspective front view of my improved parallel-ruler. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the spacer forming a part of my invention, together with that part of the ruler to which it is attached; and Fig. a is a similar view of the adjuster by means of which the two hinged blades ofthe ruler are locked in their open position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to that class of so-called parallelrulerswhich are provided with a spacer for regulating the distance apart at which the-parallel lines are to be drawn, and a catch for locking the two blades in their adjusted position; and it consists in the improved construct-ion and combination of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more Vfully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the front blade of the ruler, the front edge of which is beveled or cut away upon its lower side to adapt it for ink as well as pencil ruling.

B indicates the rear blade, which is of ordi' nary construction, and is connected or hinged to the front blade by means of the connectingplates B. The rear blade is recessed trans` versely at B for the reception of the adjustable spacer (l. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings.) This spacer consists of a single piece of metal, which is provided with a lon gitudinal slot, C, and has its front end turned down to serve as a head to bear against the rear side of the front blade, A, while its rear end is turned up to form a handle in sliding or adjusting the plate. The yspacer C is secured, adjustably, in the recess B of the rear blade by means of a thumb-screw, D, one side of the spacer being marked with a suitable scale, by which it is adj usted. Upon the rear side of the front blade is secured a metal strip, A, against which the head of the spacer bears.

E represents the metal plate, upon which is secured the catch, by means of which the blades of the ruler are locked at their farthest distance apart, the said plate being turneddown at its forward or broad end, and secured by the said end to the back of the front blade, A. The body of the plate E extends over the rear blade, B, and has pivotally secured upon it,

near its rear end, the catch F, the construction of 6 5 which will be more readily understood by reference to the detail view, Fig. 4, of the drawings, the catch being normally held in its locked position by means of a suitable spring, G, one end of which is rigidly secured to the upper side oi the plate E by means of a pin or stud, G', while its other extremity is secured to the handle end of the catch F. Upon or in the rear side of the rear blade is cut a nick or notch, H, care being taken to make the said nick at such a point that when the beveled point of the catch F falls within it the blades of the ruler will be at their farthest distance apart, with their ends lying in the same plane. A metal strip, H', is let into the wood on either side of the nick H, to prevent the nick from becoming worn and enlarged.

Hindicate finger-pins, by means of which the ruler is more conveniently handled. 'lire manner in which my improved ruler is (dpe''ated is as follows: The blades being eX tended at their farthest distance apart, with the point of catch F embedded in the nick H,

the iirst line is drawn upon the paper with the pen or pencil, when the spacer Gis moved baclr to the requisite point to regulate the distance apart at which the lines are to be drawn. The catch F is now swung back by the operator, so as to free its pointed end from the nick H, when the front blade, A, is swung or moved back until its rear edge bears against the head of the spacer G, when it is held firmly against the paper bythe fingers of the operator, and the rear blade, B, is moved back to its farthest point, when the point of the catch F will fall into the nick H, thereby locking the blades in their operative position. The second line is IOO then drawn, the above-described operation of the Various parts being repeated as often as necessary.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improved parallel-ruler will readily be understood without requiring further explanation. I am aware that parallel-rulers have been heretofore constructed provided with a sliding spacer, by means of which the distance between the two blades (which move straight back and forth from one another) is regulated. I am also aware that rulers of this class have been before constructed provided with a spring-catch for locking the two blades of the ruler in their open or adjusted position. I do not, therefore, claim either of the above-menti0ned constructions, broadly; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

1. The combination of the front blade, A, rear blade, B, provided with a transverse recess, B, and having a nick, II, in its rear side or edge, connecting-plates B B, metal spacer C, provided with' a longitudinal slot, and having its forward end bent down t0 form a head and its rear end turned up to form a convenient handle, and provided on one of its sides with a suitable scale, thumb-screw D, metal plate E, rigidly secured at its bent forward end to the front blade, A, and provided with a catch, F, near its rear end, adapted to engage with the nick H, andspring G, all constructed and arranged to .operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. The combination of the front blade, A, rear blade, B, provided with a nick, H, in its rear side or edge, connecting-plates B B', metal plate E, rigidly secured at its bent forward end to the front blade, A, and provided with a catch, F, near its rear end, adapted to engage with the nick H, and spring G, as and for the purpose shown and described.

3. The combination, with the front blade, A, and rear blade, B, hinged together by the connectingplates B', of the spacer C, formed of a single piece of metal, provided with a longitudinal slot, and having its forward end bent down to form a head and its rear end bent up to form a convenient handle, and adapted to be secured adjustably in the transverse recess B of the rear blade, B, by means of a suitable thumb-screw, I), as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CALVIN MILLER.

Witnesses:

D. B. SMITH, VALLEY C. KECK. 

